The Judiciary Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the main courts where superior judges sit?
Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court
Superior judges include the Justices of the Supreme Court, Lord Justices of Appeal, and High Court Judges.
Who is the head of the Judiciary?
Lord Chief Justice
The Lord Chief Justice oversees the judiciary system.
What types of judges are classified as inferior judges?
Circuit judges, Recorders, District judges, Tribunal judges
Inferior judges include those who hear cases in the Crown Court, County Court, and Magistrates’ Courts.
What is the role of the Lord Justice of the Supreme Court?
Hears around 100 cases a year, can only appeal on a point of law, decisions bind all lower courts
Lord Justices tend to sit in panels of five but can sit as seven for important cases.
What is the function of circuit judges in criminal cases?
Sit with juries, decide guilt, and sentence defendants
They also hear civil cases in the County Court.
How many Lord Justices of Appeal are there?
37 Lord Justices of Appeal
They can hear both civil and criminal cases in the Court of Appeal.
What is the workload for the Criminal division of the Court of Appeal?
Hears over 7,000 applications for leave to appeal
Only a quarter of these appeals are granted.
What is the primary role of a High Court Judge?
Try cases at first instance, hear evidence, decide law, and determine outcomes
They can also hear appeals primarily from the County Court.
What is the security of tenure for superior judges?
Cannot be dismissed by the Government; only by a petition to the King
This process has never been used.
What can lead to the dismissal of inferior judges?
Conviction of a crime or investigation findings by the Judicial Conduct Independence Office
The Lord Justice has the authority to dismiss inferior judges.
What is the immunity from suit for judges?
Judges cannot be sued for their decisions
This protects them from repercussions and allows impartial decision-making.
How does the independence of the judiciary manifest?
Judges are not involved in law making, cannot be dismissed by the Government, and are selected by an independent body
This ensures judicial impartiality and independence from the executive.
Judges should not preside over cases they have ______ in.
links or interests
This is to maintain impartiality in decision-making.
